Best Credit Card Ranked - 2024
Choosing the right credit card can be difficult, but our guide to the best credit cards in India makes it easy. Whether you’re a shopper, traveler, movie lover or building credit, our rankings will help you find the perfect card to match your lifestyle and goals. Discover the top options and unlock a world of benefits with every swipe.
Best Credit Card for Online Shoppers - CASHBACK SBI Card
Benefits
- 5% Cashback on online spends without any merchant restriction
- 1% Cashback on offline spends
- 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver across all petrol pumps in India
- Cashback auto-credited to your SBI Card account
- Worldwide Acceptance in over 24 million outlets
- Free Add-on Cards for family members
Annual Fees: ₹999 (Waived if Annual Spends are more than ₹2 Lacs)
Best Credit Card for Shopping Rewards - SimplyClick SBI Card
Benefits
- 10X rewards on exclusive partner websites – Apollo24X7/ BookMyShow / Cleartrip / Eazydiner/ Lenskart / Netmeds
- Amazon gift card worth ₹500 as a welcome gift
- Annual fee waiver: ₹1 lakh
- ₹4000 worth of vouchers on online spends over ₹2 lakh
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
Annual Fees: ₹499 from 2nd year (Waived if Annual Spends are more than ₹1 Lac)
Best Lifetime Free - HSBC Platinum Visa Credit Card Credit Card
- Apply for a credit card online and verify yourself by video to get an Amazon e-gift voucher worth ₹250
- Buy 1 Get 1 Free on BookMyShow
- Get 2 Reward Points per Rs.150 Spent
- Spend Rs 5000 in 30 Days and Get ₹500 Amazon Voucher
Annual Fees: ₹0
Best Credit Card for Daily Expenses - Axis Neo Card (Lifetime Free)
Benefits
- Get 40% Off on Zomato – 2 times a month
- 10% Off on Myntra everytime
- 5% Off on Utility Bill payments via Amazon Pay – once per month
- 10% Off on Blinkit (Upto Rs 250)
- 10% Off on BookMyShow – once a month
Annual Fees: ₹0
Best Credit Card for Dining/Food Delivery Cashback - HSBC Visa Cashback Credit Card
Benefits
- 10% cashback on all dining, food delivery and grocery spends (capped at up to INR1,000 per billing cycle)
- 1.5% unlimited cashback on all other spends
- Amazon Vouchers upto Rs. 1,250 on joining
- Zero liability for lost cards up to Rs. 300,000
Annual Fees: ₹999 (Waived if Annual Spends are more than ₹2 Lacs)
Best Credit Card for Beginners/New Travelers/Overseas Students - IDFC First WOW (Lifetime Free)
Benefits
- Limit at least 100% of Bank Fixed Deposit
- No credit history/income proof needed
- No Forex markup fee
- 4X Reward Points on spends with no expiration + 7.5% interest on FD
- Discount on 300+ merchants and 1500+ restaurants
- 100% ATM withdrawal limit on FD Value
- Credit shield protection from theft and fraud
- 50% off on BookMyShow
Annual Fees: ₹0
Best Lifetime Free Premium Credit Card - IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card (Lifetime Free)
Benefits
- Welcome voucher worth ₹500
- ‘Buy One, Get One’ offer on movie tickets up to ₹250 on Paytm (twice per month)
- Up to 20% discount at 1500+ restaurants
- 2 domestic airport lounge and spa visits + 2 overseas airport lounge visits per quarter
- 2 golf rounds per month
- Cancellation For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance: Cancellation cover for up to 2 claims up to ₹10,000, will be available for hotel and flight booking cancellations.
- 4 Railway Lounge visits per quarter
- Luxury Hotel Collection – 900+ luxury hotels around the world with premium benefits such as automatic room upgrade, Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, Complimentary continental breakfast, VIP Guest status, 3PM check-out upon request and others.
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance Cover of USD 1200
- Forex Markup of 1.5% + Preferential Forex Rates
Annual Fees: ₹0
Best Credit Card for Luxury/Frequent Travelers - HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card
Benefits
- Unlimited Airport lounge access in India and worldwide with primary and add-on cards
- 6 Golf games every quarter across the finest courses in the world
- Annual memberships of Club Marriott, Amazon Prime, Swiggy One as Welcome Benefit
- 10,000 Bonus Reward Points on spends of ₹ 4 lakh every calendar quarter
- 2X Reward Points on Weekend Dining
- 5 Reward Points for every ₹ 150 spent
- Up to 10X Reward Points via SmartBuy
- Interest Free Credit Period: Up to 50 days
- Foreign Currency Markup: 2% on all your foreign currency spends.
- Global Personal Concierge – 24 X 7
- Air accident insurance cover worth ₹ 2 crore
- Emergency overseas hospitalisation: ₹ 50 Lacs
- Metal Card
Annual Fees: ₹10,000 (Waived if Annual Spends are more than ₹8 Lacs)
Best Credit Card for Business - HDFC Biz Black Metal Credit Card
Benefits
- Club Marriott membership and Taj stay voucher worth Rs.5000 on a spend of Rs. 1.5 Lac within 90 days.
- Reward rate: 3.3% on regular spends
- Accelerated rewards: 16.5% with 5X rewards on Income tax, GST, bill payments on PayZapp and more.
- Flight voucher or Taj stay voucher worth Rs.5,000 on every Rs.5 Lac spend. Get vouchers worth upto Rs.20,000 on spend of Rs.20 Lac in a calendar year.
- Interest Free Credit period of 55 days instead of usual 50 days.
- Unlimited Lounge Access for primary & Add-on, Golf benefits & more
Annual/Renewal Fees: ₹10,000
Best Air Miles Credit Card - Axis Atlas Credit Card
Benefits
- 2,500 Edge Miles as Welcome Bonus (1 Mile = Re 1)
- Up to 5 Edge Miles per Rs. 100 spent (~5% Return on spends) and up to 5,000 miles upon renewal
- Milestone benefit of up to 10,000 Edge Miles on tier based spending.
- Domestic and International Lounge access for self and guest.
Annual/Renewal Fees: ₹5,000
Queries? E-mail us at info@best14.com for quick answers
Credit Card Q&A
Why Get a Credit Card?
Getting a credit card can be very helpful. It allows you to build a good credit history, which is important for things like loans and renting apartments. Credit cards also offer convenience for shopping, both online and in stores, and provide rewards like cash back or travel points. They come with safety features to protect against fraud and can help you in emergencies by giving you quick access to funds.
What is a credit score, and how does it affect my credit card application?
A credit score is a number that represents your creditworthiness. A higher score increases your chances of getting approved for a credit card with better terms, such as lower interest rates and higher credit limits.
How do credit card rewards work?
Credit card rewards can come in various forms like cashback, points, or miles. You earn these rewards by making purchases with your card, and they can often be redeemed for cash, travel, gift cards, or merchandise.
What is a credit limit?
A credit limit is the maximum amount of credit that a lender extends to a credit card holder. Staying within your credit limit and not maxing out your card can help maintain a good credit score.
How can I avoid paying interest on my credit card?
To avoid paying interest, pay your balance in full each month by the due date. Most credit cards offer a grace period, during which no interest is charged on new purchases if the previous balance is paid in full.
What should I do if my credit card is lost or stolen?
Immediately contact your credit card issuer to report the loss or theft. They can freeze your account to prevent unauthorized charges and issue a new card.
How can I improve my credit score with a credit card?
Use your credit card responsibly by making on-time payments, keeping your balance low relative to your credit limit, and avoiding opening too many new accounts at once.
Can I use my credit card abroad?
Yes, most credit cards can be used internationally.
How does credit card fraud protection work?
Most credit cards offer fraud protection, which limits your liability for unauthorized charges. If you suspect fraud, report it to your credit card issuer immediately for investigation and resolution.
Can I increase my credit limit?
Yes, you can request a credit limit increase from your issuer. They may approve the request based on your payment history, income, and credit score.
How can I dispute a charge on my credit card statement?
Contact your credit card issuer to report the dispute. Provide details about the charge and any supporting documentation. The issuer will investigate and may remove the charge if it’s found to be incorrect.
Can I set up automatic payments for my credit card?
Yes, most credit card issuers offer the option to set up automatic payments from your bank account. This can help ensure you never miss a payment and avoid late fees.
How We Review?
At Best14.com, we strive to provide comprehensive reviews of the best credit cards on the market. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions by offering detailed insights into each card’s features, benefits, and drawbacks. Here’s a look at how we conduct our reviews:
1. Research and Data Collection
– Card Details: We start by gathering all available information on each credit card, including official issuer data, terms and conditions, and user agreements.
– Expert Opinions: We consult financial experts and industry insiders to get professional insights into the card’s performance and reputation.
2. Key Factors We Evaluate
– Rewards Program: We analyze the rewards structure, including points, miles, or cash back options. We look at earning rates, redemption flexibility, and any limitations or expiration policies.
– Fees and Rates: We examine annual fees, foreign transaction fees, balance transfer fees, and APRs for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances. We also consider introductory offers and penalties for late or missed payments.
– Sign-Up Bonuses: We assess the value of any introductory bonuses, including the required spending to qualify and the timeframe for earning the bonus.
– Cardholder Benefits: We evaluate additional perks such as travel insurance, purchase protection, extended warranties, concierge services, and access to exclusive events or offers.
– Customer Experience: We consider customer service quality, mobile app functionality, online account management, and the overall user experience based on customer reviews and ratings.
– Security Features: We look at fraud protection, zero-liability policies, and any advanced security measures to protect cardholders from unauthorized use.
3. Comparative Analysis
– Benchmarking: We compare each card against its competitors in the same category, whether it’s cash back, travel rewards, low interest, or balance transfer cards. This helps identify each card’s strengths and weaknesses.
– User Feedback: We take into account real user experiences and reviews to understand how the card performs in everyday use and any common issues faced by cardholders.
4. Scoring and Ranking
– Rating System: We use a standardized scoring system to rate each card on various criteria such as rewards, fees, benefits, and customer service. This ensures consistency and fairness in our reviews.
– Top Picks: Based on our ratings, we highlight top picks in different categories to help you quickly find the best options that suit your needs.
5. Ongoing Updates
– Regular Reviews: The credit card market is dynamic, with frequent updates to card features, terms, and promotions. We regularly review and update our content to ensure it reflects the latest information.
– User Input: We encourage feedback from our readers and incorporate their experiences and suggestions into our reviews to make them more comprehensive and relevant.
6. Transparency and Integrity
– Reviews: Our reviews are independent and unbiased. While we may receive affiliate commissions from some card issuers, our recommendations are based solely on the merits of the cards.
– Full Disclosure: We clearly disclose any potential conflicts of interest and ensure our readers understand how we are compensated.
By following this rigorous review process, we aim to provide you with the most accurate and helpful information, empowering you to choose the credit card that best fits your financial goals and lifestyle.